243. Reading the Bible with New Eyes With Dr. Anita Marchesani

247. Finding Hope After Narcissistic Abuse With Heidi Royle

What happens when the marriage you prayed would be restored continues to fall apart? In this powerful episode of the Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast, Heidi welcomes Heidi Royle, coach, entrepreneur, and founder of The Grove Collective, as she shares her deeply personal story of faith, heartbreak, healing, and redemption. From a dramatic encounter with God as a teenager to international ministry opportunities, Heidi's life seemed full of purpose and promise. But behind closed doors, she found herself navigating an abusive marriage marked by anger, control, addiction, and profound disappointment. Through therapy, faith, community support, and a commitment to facing reality, Heidi discovered healing, freedom, and eventually a new chapter of hope. In this episode, you'll learn: ✔ How to recognize the difference between normal marriage struggles and abusive relationships ✔ Why accepting reality is often the first step toward healing ✔ The role faith, therapy, and community support play in recovery ✔ How codependency can keep people stuck in unhealthy situations ✔ Practical encouragement for anyone navigating divorce, betrayal, addiction, or narcissistic abuse Whether you're walking through heartbreak yourself or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers hope that God can bring healing even from life's most painful chapters. "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." — Psalm 34:18 Join us for a powerful testimony of God's faithfulness, the courage to face difficult truths, and the healing that can come when we surrender our story to Him. Heidi Royle's website: https://thegrovecollective.co/ [https://thegrovecollective.co/] Heidi's Glamping Campground: https://thegroveglamping.com/ [https://thegroveglamping.com/] Find more about Heidi Mortenson: www.heidimortensonlmft.com [http://www.heidimortensonlmft.com] Schedule a free 15 min consult with Heidi Mortenson: https://calendly.com/heidimortenson/15min?month=2026-07 [https://calendly.com/heidimortenson/15min?month=2026-07] Join Heidi Mortenson's mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5 [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5] If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org [https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/]. You are loved!

246. 10 Rules for a Healthy Relationship

What if the biggest problem in your relationship isn't your spouse—but the story you're telling yourself? In this practical and faith-filled episode, Heidi shares 10 powerful rules that can transform your relationships. Drawing from personal stories, biblical wisdom, and psychological insight, you'll learn how to stop unhealthy patterns, communicate more effectively, and create deeper connection with the people you love. Whether you're married, dating, or simply wanting healthier relationships, this episode will help you grow in emotional maturity, personal responsibility, and grace. In this episode, you'll learn: • How to stop taking responsibility for someone else's happiness • Why doing your own healing work strengthens every relationship • The secret to resolving conflict without damaging connection • How to identify triggers, wounds, and false stories before they create resentment • Practical ways to build friendship, trust, and emotional safety "Each one should test their own actions... for each one should carry their own load." — Galatians 6:4-5 Healthy relationships aren't built by perfect people. They're built by imperfect people who take responsibility for themselves, extend grace to one another, and keep growing together. Schedule a FREE 15-minute clarity call: https://calendly.com/heidimortenson/15min [https://calendly.com/heidimortenson/15min] Release what isn't yours free guide: https://subscribepage.io/IAqSlkIf [https://subscribepage.io/IAqSlk] · Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5 [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5] · If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org [https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/]. You are loved!

245. Healing Beyond Symptoms With Holly Misener

What happens when your faith is tested for years through trauma, medical crises, unanswered questions, and the suffering of your children? In this deeply moving episode of the Strong Tower Mental Health Podcast, Heidi sits down with Holly Meisner — president of the Minnesota Christian Chamber and co-owner of His Healing House — to talk about the intersection of faith, suffering, healing, and whole-person health. Holly vulnerably shares how her relationship with Jesus began at age five, how her faith was radically refined through a decade of navigating her children's severe health challenges, and what it looked like to keep trusting God when outcomes were uncertain. Together, Heidi and Holly explore trauma, surrender, nervous system healing, functional medicine, spiritual healing, and the importance of addressing root causes rather than simply managing symptoms. Holly also shares powerful testimonies from her holistic clinic, where faith, trauma-informed care, and physical healing come together in transformative ways. This conversation is honest, hope-filled, grounded, and deeply encouraging for anyone walking through suffering, burnout, chronic stress, or a season where faith feels stretched thin. "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it… But even if He does not, we will not serve other gods." — Bible What You'll Learn in This Episode * How prolonged trauma and caregiving can deeply impact faith, identity, and the nervous system * The difference between symptom management and root-cause healing * Why surrender and trust often deepen most in seasons of suffering * How trauma-informed care, functional medicine, and spiritual healing can work together * Practical insight into holistic healing approaches for anxiety, chronic stress, inflammation, and emotional wounds Holly's website: www.hishealinghouse.org [http://www.hishealinghouse.org] Find more about Heidi: www.heidimortensonlmft.com [http://www.heidimortensonlmft.com] Schedule a FREE 15-minute clarity call with Heidi: https://calendly.com/heidimortenson/15min [https://calendly.com/heidimortenson/15min] Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5 [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5] If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org [https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/]. You are loved!

244. 6 Ways to Manage Anxiety and Walk in God's Peace

Do you ever feel like anxiety is quietly running your life? Maybe it shows up as overthinking, people-pleasing, perfectionism, control, fear of the future, or carrying burdens that were never yours to carry. In this episode, Heidi explores anxiety through both a biblical and mental health lens, sharing practical tools to help you move from striving and worry into greater peace, trust, and freedom. You'll discover how anxiety often disguises itself as responsibility and productivity, why many of us struggle to let go of control, and how God invites us into a different way of living. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why anxiety often feels helpful—even when it's limiting your freedom • How to identify the hidden beliefs and patterns driving anxiety • Practical steps to surrender worries and experience God's peace • Why embracing your humanity is an important part of healing and growth • 6 biblical and practical ways to manage anxiety and walk in greater freedom "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." — Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) Schedule a FREE 15-minute clarity call: https://calendly.com/heidimortenson/15min Release what isn't yours free guide: https://subscribepage.io/IAqSlkIf [https://subscribepage.io/IAqSlk] · Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5 [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5] · If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org [https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/]. You are loved!

243. Reading the Bible with New Eyes With Dr. Anita Marchesani

In this powerful follow-up conversation, Heidi welcomes back Dr. Anita Marchesani to explore how understanding the Bible through its original historical, cultural, and Orthodox context can transform the way we see God, suffering, salvation, and spiritual growth. If you've ever wondered whether you're reading Scripture through a modern Western lens, this episode will challenge and deepen your faith in meaningful ways. In this episode, you'll discover:✨ How cultural context can unlock deeper meaning in Scripture✨ The difference between a Western and Orthodox understanding of salvation and suffering✨ Why biblical concepts like justice, wrath, and sanctification may not mean what you think they do✨ Practical ways to grow in spiritual maturity and become more Christ-like in everyday life "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." — Romans 12:2 (ESV) Whether you're wrestling with difficult passages, hungry for a deeper faith, or simply curious about the Orthodox perspective, this conversation will help you read the Bible with fresh eyes and a renewed heart. 🎙️ Listen in and discover how understanding the story behind Scripture can transform the way you follow Christ. Anita's Substack: https://substack.com/@thedranitagroup [https://substack.com/@thedranitagroup] Dr. Anita's book Be Still: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Uncovering-Achieving-Happiness-Wholeness/dp/0578226758 [https://www.amazon.com/Still-Uncovering-Achieving-Happiness-Wholeness/dp/0578226758] Find more about Heidi: www.heidimortensonlmft.com [http://www.heidimortensonlmft.com] Schedule a FREE 15-minute clarity call: https://calendly.com/heidimortenson/15min [https://calendly.com/heidimortenson/15min] Release what isn't yours free guide: https://subscribepage.io/IAqSlkIf [https://subscribepage.io/IAqSlk] Join my mailing list: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5 [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/t5u2y5] If you are in crisis, help is available by call or text 1-800-273-8255 24/7. You can also visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org [https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/]. You are loved!